Breakfast in the UK?

[SJL2020]

Australia (and small NZ) are probably much more of a 'dairy' culture (no pun intended) than the UK, but France and some other nations with their EU-subsidised dairyfarmers are oddly more akin to Oz and NZ than UK in that regard. Perhaps the notorious English climate (which I enjoy when in your nation) is to blame, as yoghurt may be considered unsuitable for a wet/cloudy/cold day's start?

Speaking as someone with dual nationality and having spent decades living in both countries, I don't think there is much difference between patterns of consumption of dairy products in Australia vs UK.

A quick look at per capita milk consumption data confirms this is the case.

Perhaps you were unlucky in the shops you visited, as there is a lot of yoghurt consumed in the UK. The only difference I have noticed is that there does seem to be something a preference for multi-packs of small pots (i.e., assorted flavours) in the UK compared to larger tubs in Australia (albeit it is 6 years since my last visit and things might have changed....)

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Beans extra. How mean!

Inclined to agree, however, I wasn't paying!

Perhaps slightly OT - but has anyone ever had white pudding (the lesser known, less vampirical cousin to black pudding)?

Always fancied trying it but never seen it offered anywhere!

Only place I've ever had it served, was as part of a breakfast "fry-up" when overnighting up in Scotlandshire.

 

[route101]

Your (and others' similar) suggestions are akin to my distant country where once most (say in 1960s) had a cooked breakfast of bacon and eggs (plus maybe tomato, simpler than The Great British Breakfast) but today that won't be the case except for a minority on weekends, and even then at a cafe it's more likely to be smashed avocado on toast. At home during the week, it might be cereal and perhaps raisin or plain toast, yoghurt, 'ready-to-go' Tetra paks of supposedly 'breakfast drinks' and so on.

Many might have a cooked breakfast in Australia if staying at an hotel or motel, but that's hardly a daily event for most.

Australia (and small NZ) are probably much more of a 'dairy' culture (no pun intended) than the UK, but France and some other nations with their EU-subsidised dairyfarmers are oddly more akin to Oz and NZ than UK in that regard. Perhaps the notorious English climate (which I enjoy when in your nation) is to blame, as yoghurt may be considered unsuitable for a wet/cloudy/cold day's start?

It shows how society in the West in our two nations has changed. I bet more people in both skip breakfast than 40 years ago even though doctors and nutritionists warn against doing that.

I do notice when I go to a big French supermarket there is far greater selection of yoghurts and cheeses.

Perhaps slightly OT - but has anyone ever had white pudding (the lesser known, less vampirical cousin to black pudding)?

Always fancied trying it but never seen it offered anywhere! I wonder if this is offered in any “great British breakfasts” in the UK?

I have only ever white pudding from chippies. Usually get it over Edinburgh.

 

[Parjon]

As an aside, what percentage of Englishmen and women do you estimate eat 'The Great British Breakfast' either daily, or at least once a week?

Is that extensive breakfast with its Yorkshire pudding, sausages, bacon and egg(s) still popular with Britons under say 35 years of age?

"Full English" not British breakfast.

As for those who eat it daily or over a week. 1% maybe less? Apart from on holiday or when staying in hotels.

I doubt it was ever eaten regularly. Much more likely that people might have had some bacon and a boiled egg.

 

[Amos]

Perhaps slightly OT - but has anyone ever had white pudding (the lesser known, less vampirical cousin to black pudding)?

Always fancied trying it but never seen it offered anywhere! I wonder if this is offered in any “great British breakfasts” in the UK?

I think that white pudding is more of an Irish thing. I have had it a few times but didn’t think much of it.It seemed to consist of a lot of cereals, and didn’t taste much of anything. I believe you may be able to get some of the cheaper synthetic white pudding in some supermarkets in Scotland.

 

[GusB]

I think that white pudding is more of an Irish thing. I have had it a few times but didn’t think much of it.It seemed to consist of a lot of cereals, and didn’t taste much of anything. I believe you may be able to get some of the cheaper synthetic white pudding in some supermarkets in Scotland.

For the record, I've never tried white pudding so I've no idea what it tastes like, but it's fairly popular around here.

I wouldn't suggest that it's synthetic!

 

[Gloster]

A look at Wikipedia suggests that it is basically black pudding without the blood. It still sounds revolting and, because it is not all dark, looks it as well.

 

[DelW]

Perhaps slightly OT - but has anyone ever had white pudding (the lesser known, less vampirical cousin to black pudding)?

Always fancied trying it but never seen it offered anywhere! I wonder if this is offered in any “great British breakfasts” in the UK?

I don't think I've ever had white pudding, but in Germany I've had what is (possibly?) something similar - weisswurst. Until then I'd liked all the varieties of German sausages I'd tried, but that was definitely an exception, I intend never to repeat the experience.

As for those who eat it daily or over a week. 1% maybe less? Apart from on holiday or when staying in hotels.

I doubt it was ever eaten regularly. Much more likely that people might have had some bacon and a boiled egg.

When I was growing up in the 1950s and 60s, our daily family breakfast was bacon and fried bread. My father couldn't stand eggs in any recognisable form, though, so it's not surprising that eggs never appeared. I didn't inherit his dislike, and these days my most common home breakfast is cereal followed by egg on toast.

 

[WatcherZero]

White Pudding is exactly the same as Black Pudding minus the blood as mentioned, they taste pretty much the same (Black Pudding tastes more 'well done' while White Pudding tastes more 'medium rare'). Weisswurst isnt similar, its made from fatty meat cuts then seasoned with herbs (like black pudding) with lemon juice and then boiled to cook rather than fried/grilled (though may be finished on a grill to give it grill marks), it doesnt contain any cereal grains or blood.

Yoghurt for breakfast is unusual in the UK, its more a lunch or evening meal thing, whereas its a prominent feature of a Continental Breakfast. I do agree however that there is less variety in Yoghurts nowadays than there was 20/30 years ago, they tend to predominantly be pro-biotic with some fruit flavouring with few plain options, or Greek Yoghurt whereas going back you had a lot more variety in flavours and styles in the shops. I love Greek Yoghurt but pro-biotic's always give me the runs so I eat less yoghurt than I used to.

 

[zero]

Interesting that by my count so far in this thread, there has only been one response saying they don't eat breakfast.

On other UK forums when this question is raised, there tends to be a much higher proportion of non-breakfast eaters, of whom some are rather proud and militant about it.

Yoghurt and other dairy items are quite common breakfast items in my UK friendship groups. I don't know anyone in the UK or Australia who has avocado toast as a regular or preferred dish, it's just one of the many choices if you go out for an early meal on a weekend.

Personally I agree with the majority of posters who only have a traditional cooked breakfast in hotels. However when travelling in England I tend to stay in low- to mid-end hotels and they often buy the poorest quality of ingredients. While I agree that hash browns are not a traditional component, often they are the only edible thing, as the sausages and bacon can often be disgusting and many hotels use powdered egg mix rather than actual eggs.

I like Lorne sausages and haggis when going to Scotland but my favourite item is the Irish sausage you get in Irish breakfasts and the Ulster fry.

One poster mentioned going to the USA and this reminds me of an incident at a UK hotel breakfast. An American guest asked for eggs "over easy" and neither the chef nor any other staff or diners understood what they meant, even when I looked it up I still didn't really get it.

 

[birchesgreen]

Over easy just means they are fried both sides, though i think the yolk is still runny.

 

[westv]

When it comes to yoghurt, it annoys me that "yogurt" has crept in in some supermarkets.

 

[Gloster]

Warning: not to be read while eating.

For thirty years or so I did not eat breakfast at home, just had a mug of coffee. This was partly because I suffered from a throat problem that meant I was coughing up small bits of phlegm for an hour or two and if you eat before you have cleared your throat it reduces it to a sticky paste. On damp and cold days even coffee was too much and I had one of those hot lemon powders. Nowadays I have a bowl of bran with my coffee because since I was ill I have to take a cocktail of pills early on in the day and some must be taken after food; meanwhile my throat is not so bad.

A second reason was that, not being a morning person, I don’t want to do too much first thing. When I lived in London I could be out of the flat in eight minutes from the alarm going off: first put the kettle on, then start getting dressed until the kettle clicks, make a copy of milky coffee and carry it around while doing everything else, finish coffee, clean teeth, depart.

 

[randyrippley]

I think that white pudding is more of an Irish thing. I have had it a few times but didn’t think much of it.It seemed to consist of a lot of cereals, and didn’t taste much of anything. I believe you may be able to get some of the cheaper synthetic white pudding in some supermarkets in Scotland.

In Ireland historically you were likely to get white pudding AND red pudding, alongside the black. I've seen both on sale as well in Scottish butchers

Over easy just means they are fried both sides, though i think the yolk is still runny.

thats correct

 

[DarloRich]

Personally I agree with the majority of posters who only have a traditional cooked breakfast in hotels. However when travelling in England I tend to stay in low- to mid-end hotels and they often buy the poorest quality of ingredients.

this is why Greggs was invented! I often stay in cheaper hotels, don't book a breakfast and get something form Greggs or a local café.

 

[westv]

I would never consider staying in a hotel if it had a poor quality breakfast.

 

[DarloRich]

I would never consider staying in a hotel if it had a poor quality breakfast.

Whilst the cost of breakfast will often be included in a corporate booking rate added to a standard hotel bill it can be quite silly. I wont pay £12/£15 for a fry up. I will walk to a café round the corner.

 

[jfollows]

Interesting that by my count so far in this thread, there has only been one response saying they don't eat breakfast.

...

Personally I agree with the majority of posters who only have a traditional cooked breakfast in hotels. However when travelling in England I tend to stay in low- to mid-end hotels and they often buy the poorest quality of ingredients. While I agree that hash browns are not a traditional component, often they are the only edible thing, as the sausages and bacon can often be disgusting and many hotels use powdered egg mix rather than actual eggs.

As the poster who doesn't eat breakfast, my opinion here is not necessarily the most reliable, but I tend to shun hotel breakfasts for their poor quality, assuming I'm in the mood for breakfast, especially because they tend to charge too much money for them. Some of the national hotel chains "major" on breakfast and do a good job, though. I once stayed at a B&B which put "value sausages" to shame, they were dreadful. In a major city I usually prefer to go out and find somewhere else for breakfast, especially London.

For the exceptions which do a good breakfast, a good indicator can be if they can serve a poached egg well.

Otherwise, no, I remember the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool where the food was dire and I had to avoid being trampled by the OAP brigade at the free breakfast, after the first experience I went out to Subway for breakfast instead.

 

[RuddA]

Perhaps slightly OT - but has anyone ever had white pudding (the lesser known, less vampirical cousin to black pudding)?

Always fancied trying it but never seen it offered anywhere! I wonder if this is offered in any “great British breakfasts” in the UK?

Many years ago I stayed in a B&B in southern Ireland and the breakfast came with homemade black and white puddings. One of the nicest breakfasts I can remember eating and both puddings were delicious.
I presume there are more than one style of white pudding as there appears to be of black pudding.
The dry black pudding I don't like, and at the other end of the spectrum the Polish black pudding sausage is wonderful (sometimes available at my local Polish shop).

 

[zero]

As the poster who doesn't eat breakfast, my opinion here is not necessarily the most reliable, but I tend to shun hotel breakfasts for their poor quality, assuming I'm in the mood for breakfast, especially because they tend to charge too much money for them.

For the exceptions which do a good breakfast, a good indicator can be if they can serve a poached egg well.

I get free breakfast with several hotel chains so I don't care what it costs, but I agree that I would very rarely pay the asking price at hotels - the poor ones are not worth it and the good ones would be too expensive if I didn't get them free!

However as a "morning person", I need to eat something before I have enough energy to go out and look for better food.

I refuse to pay for Greggs so I can only eat there on Friday or Saturday mornings when O2 Priority gives me a free breakfast roll

I have had a few poached eggs that were basically hard-boiled, if the chef can't manage to do it right day in day out they may as well not bother...

 

[JamesT]

At home, mostly breakfast will be a bowl of cereal. The occasional fry up if I feel in the mood. Definitely a fan of a cooked breakfast when I'm staying in a hotel.

Though I tend not to have breakfast immediately after I wake up. Which usually means when I go into the office I don't eat till lunchtime as I don't like cycling just after eating.

As to breakfast being the most important meal of the day, one of the more recent diet suggestions is to have a 14 hour fasting period. So depending on how late you have your evening meal, you may have to wait till lunchtime before having your next meal.

 

[DelW]

When it comes to yoghurt, it annoys me that "yogurt" has crept in in some supermarkets.

Between them, my two paper dictionaries (Chambers and Collins) list yogurt, yoghurt, yoghourt and yaourt as alternative spellings. For its etymology, both credit Turkish as the origin, but one spells the Turkish source word as yogurt and the other as yoghurt.

You pays your money and you takes your choice ...

(Grrr, autocorrect is a nightmare on posts like this )

 

[edwin_m]

Between them, my two paper dictionaries (Chambers and Collins) list yogurt, yoghurt, yoghourt and yaourt as alternative spellings. For its etymology, both credit Turkish as the origin, but one spells the Turkish source word as yogurt and the other as yoghurt.

You pays your money and you takes your choice ...

(Grrr, autocorrect is a nightmare on posts like this )

The headmaster at a school I attended, who was a real old-fashioned stickler, was adamant that it was "yogurt".

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Perhaps slightly OT - but has anyone ever had white pudding (the lesser known, less vampirical cousin to black pudding)?

Always fancied trying it but never seen it offered anywhere! I wonder if this is offered in any “great British breakfasts” in the UK?

I've never tried it, but I've seen it in butcher's shops... to me it doesn't have the appeal of the classic black pudding, but then I'm old enough to remember white dog mess being a relatively common sight, and white pudding reminds me of that a bit too much!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Between them, my two paper dictionaries (Chambers and Collins) list yogurt, yoghurt, yoghourt and yaourt as alternative spellings.

Thought that last one was a (Mongolian?) tent.

 

[duncanp]

Thought that last one was a (Mongolian?) tent.

The Mongolian tent is call a Yurt

 

[Essan]

If I eat breakfast at all it'll be either a bacon butty or full English ..... But I probably only do so a dozen or so times a year. I find 3 or 4 mugs of tea is all I need (and I am a morning person).

 

[Silenos]

Between them, my two paper dictionaries (Chambers and Collins) list yogurt, yoghurt, yoghourt and yaourt as alternative spellings. For its etymology, both credit Turkish as the origin, but one spells the Turkish source word as yogurt and the other as yoghurt.

You pays your money and you takes your choice ...

(Grrr, autocorrect is a nightmare on posts like this )

I think the original word is yoğurt. The spelling with the gh is to distinguish the yumusak g (the g with the breve on top) from an ordinary g. The Turkish pronunciation is something like yo-urt.

I don’t know anyone who has a cooked breakfast at home these days. I do remember on a first visit to my partner’s home in Cork many years ago being offered a traditional plate of tripe cooked in milk with drisheen (a strongly flavoured blood sausage) as a breakfast.

 

[westv]

We often have a cooked breakfast at the weekend. Normally egg and beans on toast but sometimes grilled sausages and mushrooms too.

The information superhighway tells me that "yogurt" is a US spelling and yogourt is Canadian.

 

[Amos]

In Ireland historically you were likely to get white pudding AND red pudding, alongside the black. I've seen both on sale as well in Scottish butchers

Never encountered red pudding,is it a mixture of black and white?